Clematis plant named ‘Evipo011’

ABSTRACT

A new  Clematis  cultivar which is well suited to propagation in glasshouses, with a medium growth habit, profuse, light purple flowers with a distinct flower center, early flowering from previous season&#39;s growth and good disease resistance. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for cultivation in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Botanical classification: Genus—Clematis. Species—viticella.

Variety denomination: ‘Evipo011’.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCOVERY

The present discovery constitutes a new and distinct variety of Clematis which originated from a naturally occurring mutation of unknown causation on a branch of Clematis ‘Evijohill’, a Clematis by the same inventor, described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,912 dated Sep. 3, 2002.

‘Evipo011’ has a unique combination of characteristics which distinguish it from the Clematis ‘Evijohill’. For example: ‘Evipo011’ has an inner ‘ruff’ at the flower center formed from petaloid stamens. ‘Evijohill’ has an inner ‘ruff’ at the flower center formed from relatively broad inner tepals.

The Clematis plant of the present discovery also has a unique combination of characteristics which distinguish it from all other varieties which we are aware of. For example, ‘Evipo011’:

-   -   1. has profuse light-purple flowers with a distinct center;     -   2. develops flowers in spring and autumn;     -   3. propagates and flowers more reliably than most double         cultivars.     -   4. is well suited to container culture.

This combination of qualities was lacking in Clematis varieties that were in commercial cultivation and the qualities have been substantially achieved in the new variety.

‘Evipo011’ was discovered by Raymond J. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in their Clematis development program in Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in May 2001.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Evipo011’ by cuttings was first done by Raymond J. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in June 2001. This initial and subsequent asexual propagations have demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘Evipo011’ are true to type and are transmitted from one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration show as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type:

FIG. 1 Upper and lower side of open flower with detached tepals;

FIG. 2.1 Upper and under surface of open flower;

FIG. 2.2 Stem showing attachment of petiole, leaves, pedicel, and closed flower buds;

FIG. 2.3 Flower buds at ¼ opening;

FIG. 2.4 Juvenile growth showing stem and attachment of leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of ‘Evipo011’, as observed in its growth throughout the flowering period in glasshouses at Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom. Observed plants were cultivated for a period of 24 months in 2 liter containers. Certain phenotypical characteristics of the variety may vary under different environmental, cultural, agronomic, seasonal, and climatic conditions. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001.

For a comparison, the nearest existing Clematis variety is ‘Evijohill’. Chart 1 details the main distinguishing physical characteristic which differentiates ‘Evipo011’ from the comparison variety.

CHART 1 ‘Evipo011’ ‘Evijohill’ Flower Center consists Center consists center and of an inner of many small reproductive ‘ruff’ of 400 tepals, quantity organs to 500 or more 50 to 100, width petaloid 5 to 10 mm. stamens, width 3 to 5 mm.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Normal flowering period is April through May.     Flowering is recurring August to October. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—35 mm length. Bud diameter is 18 mm.         -   Bud form.—Elliptic and somewhat pubescent.         -   Bud color.—Green Group 142B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Aspects.—Near horizontal and holds flower facing upwards.         -   Surface.—Pubescent.         -   Length.—60 to 100 mm average length.         -   Color.—Green Group 143C.         -   Strength.—Strong. -   Receptacle: Absent. -   Flower arrangement:     -   -   Location on vine.—New and old growth.         -   Borne.—Often borne singly in spring; otherwise, compound             cyme cluster of 3 to 5 flowers. -   Flower bloom:     -   -   Size.—110 to 130 mm in diameter. 30 to 40 mm in depth.         -   Profile.—Upon opening: Flowers are flat with protruding             globular center. After opening: Flowers are flat with             protruding globular center.         -   Color.—Upon opening: Upper surface is Purple Group 77C with             a central bar of Red-Purple Group 70A. After opening: Upper             surface is Purple Group 76C with a central bar of Red-Purple             Group 72C. The reverse surface is Purple Group 76D.         -   Variations.—White Group N155A observed at tepal base.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Lasting quality.—On the plant: 15 to 20 days. As a cut             flower: 7 to 10 days. -   Tepals:     -   -   Quantity.—Normally 5 to 8.         -   Size.'Normally 55 to 65 mm in length by 25 to 35 mm wide.         -   Shape.—Individual tepal shape is ovate to elliptical.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Undulation of margin.—Slight.         -   Tepal apex.—Mucronate.         -   Tepal base.—Acute.         -   Recurvature of tip.—Weakly reflexed.         -   Persistence.—Tepals drop off cleanly leaving an inner ‘ruff’             of petaloid stamens.         -   Arrangement.—Tepals are arranged regularly. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—Sterile. -   Seed head characteristics: None.

PLANT

-   Plant form: Climbing. -   Plant growth: Vigorous. -   Size: Seasons growth attains 2.5 to 3 meters in height. Average     spread is 1 to 1.5 meters. -   Hardiness: Trials to date show the variety is cold tolerant to USDA     hardiness zone 4. -   Stems:     -   -   Color.—Young wood: Yellow-Green 143A quickly becoming             Greyed-Orange Group 177A. Older wood: Greyed-Orange 172B.         -   Internodes.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: 100 to 160 mm.         -   Surface.—Young wood: Smooth and somewhat pubescent. Older             wood: Smooth. -   Plant foliage:     -   -   Leaf characteristics.—Deciduous.         -   Mature leaf form.—Trifoliate. There are 3 leaflets on             average.         -   Compound leaf size.—150 to 190 mm (l)×65 to 110 mm (w).         -   Abundance.—Generally, there are 16 leaves per 1000 mm of             stem.         -   Color.—Upper surfaces of mature leaves: Green Group 137B.             Lower surfaces of mature leaves: Green Group 137C. Upper             surfaces of new foliage: Yellow-Green Group 143A. Lower             surfaces of new foliage: Yellow-Green Group 143C. -   Plant leaves and leaflets:     -   -   Stipules.—Absent.         -   Petioles.—Average length: 30 to 60 mm. Color: Yellow-Green             Group 144B maturing to Greyed-Orange Group 177A. Clasping:             By leaf petiole.         -   Petioloule.—Length: 2 to 10 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group             144B.         -   Leaflet shape.—General shape: Elliptic. Base: Rounded. Apex:             Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Leaflet size.—30 to 60 mm in length by 20 to 30 mm wide.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Surface.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side: Smooth.         -   Thickness.—Moderate.         -   Glossiness.—Matte Finish. -   Disease resistance: Subject to any disease that normally attacks the     species. However, the variety is more tolerant to Botrytis then some     double forms of Clematis. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Clematis plant named ‘Evipo011’, described and illustrated herein as a distinct and novel Clematis variety due to its light purple flowers with distinct center, attractive long lasting foliage and compact growth, repeated flowering under glasshouse conditions, suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots, durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable for distribution in the floral industry. 